Saturday, November 07, 2009

Capitol Mall Redevelopment Plan

The City of Sacramento looking into creating a stronger more vibrant connection from the Sacramento River to the Capitol by increasing activity on the Mall. The Cities currently looking into holding a design competition for the development from the riverfront to 9th Street where the Mall would become a major attraction for both residents and tourists by the year 2015. The variety of festivals and activities that regularly occur in its beautiful public spaces would draw hundreds of thousands of people annually. The magnificent public art and public works projects that connect the waterfront to the Capitol will be featured on web sites and in magazines around the world. The freeway will no longer feel like a dividing line. Instead, a tree-lined concourse with water features will lead people to and from the riverfront to enjoy the magnificent gateway to California's Capital.

Key strategies the vision for the short term (1 to 3 years):· Create more events, more festivals to draw people to the Mall.· Focus on "moveable pieces",e.g. 1-5 bridge, Mall median, Lot X (southwest corner of 3rd and Capitol Mall).· Leverage existing transportation funds to get something done now that supports the long term vision.· Deploy circulator buses to enable people to move freely and easily from Capitol Mall to Downtown Plaza, K Street, Old Sacramento, the Railyards, mid-town, R Street, and West Sacramento.

The Mid-term plan (3 to 5 years):· Encourage the development of select numbers of retail establishments.· Develop the CaIPERS site (northwest corner of 3rd and Capitol).· Connect Capitol Mall to the river, metaphorically, physically in all aspects.· Design highly visible, world-class gathering points for tourists and residents along the Mall.· Develop more public transit solutions to enable people to circulate from Capitol Mall to Downtown Plaza, K Street, Old Sacramento, the Railyards, mid-town, R Street, and West Sacramento.

Next week on the 10th the City Council will adopt a resolution to be in partnership with the American Institute of Architects and stakeholders to develop a program and hold a design competition for a comprehensive Capitol Mall Plan from the riverfront to Capitol Mall, and the development of a project level design for a specific location.